Comparison of Turfgrasses

Warm Season Varieties

Chris Dewey

Pasco County Extension

Florida Friendly Landscaping

Program Coordinator

Zone Map

Zone Map

GRASS KIND MAP ZONESEED RATEfor Lawns

@ 1000 sq. ft. Planting Depth When to Plant

Best USDA*Zones

Bahiagrass:Pensacola

9-10 5-10 1/4" to 1/2" Spring / Summer 9 to 10

Bahiagrass:Argentine

9-10 5-10 1/4" to 1/2" Spring / Summer Lower 9 to 10

Bentgrass 1 thru 9 & 11-12 1/2-1 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

4 to 6

Bermuda 8-9-10-11-12 2-3 1/4" March - August 3 to11

Bluegrass 1-3-4-5-6-7-8 1-3 1/4" to 1/2"Feb-May

Sept - Nov2 to 6

Carpetgrass 9-10 4-5 1/4" to 1/2" Spring / Summer Coastal 8-10

Centipede 8-9-10 1/4 - 1 1/4" Spring / Summer 7 to 10

Fescue:Tall & KY-31

1-3-5-6-7-8 5-10 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

4 to 7

Fescue:Creeping Red

1-3-4-5-6-7-8 3-5 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

3 to 7

Ryegrass:Annual

All zones 5-10 1/4" to 1/2" Fall All Zones(Seasonal)

Ryegrass:Perennial

2 to 8+All for overseeding

1-10 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

3-6 Per.7-10 Overseed

St. Augustine 9-10 1/2 - 1 1/4" to 1/2" Spring & April-August 8 to 10

Zoysia 8-9-10-11-121-2 (raw seed)2-3 (coated)

1/4" to 1/2" Spring & April-Augustlower 5to 10

Mowing heights -

    

           

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

St. AugustineRye Grasses

Centipede GrassZoysia GrassBermuda GrassImproved Bermuda

Hot temperature effects - Grasses

that can handle high temperatures.

               

ZoysiagrassImproved BermudaBermudagrassSt. Augustine GrassArgentine BahiagrassPensacola BahiagrassCentipede Grass

Ryegrasses

Cold temperature effects - Winter kill can

result in grasses with low tolerance

               

RyegrassZoysiagrassBermudagrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassCentipede GrassSt. Augustine Grass

Drought Tolerance - Effects of lack of rain-fall

or irrigation on grasses

               

BermudagrassImproved BermudaPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassZoysia GrassCentipede Grass

St. Augustine Grass

Ryegrasses

Traffic & Wear tolerance - Wear and tear

on grass from foot-traffic (people walking)

               

Zoysia Grass Improved BermudaPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassBermudagrassRyegrass - Perennial

St. Augustine GrassCentipede Grass

Fertilizer rates - Low rates simply mean they

require less fertilization to grow.  

               

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

Zoysia GrassCentipede GrassSt. Augustine GrassRyegrasses

Bermudagrass

Shade effects - sunlight that a lawn area (and

grass plant) receives each day.

             

  

St. Augustine Grass

RyegrassesBentgrassCentipede GrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassZoysia Grass

Bermudagrass

Establishment Time- how long it takes to

establish a grass from sprigs or seed.

               

Improved BermudaBermudagrass Ryegrasses

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

St. Augustine GrassCentipede Grass

Zoysia Grass

Insect Resistance - Warm Season grasses only

               

Zoysia GrassPensacola BahiagrassBermudagrassArgentine BahiagrassCentipede GrassSt. Augustine Grass

Disease Resistance - Different grasses

are affected by different diseases

               

Ryegrasses

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassBermudagrass

Centipede GrassZoysia GrassSt. Augustine Grass

Salt Water Tolerance - Some grasses are more suitable for planting near the sea coast or irrigated with reclaimed

water.

               

St. Augustine Grass

ZoysiagrassBermudagrass

Centipede GrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

Seeding Rates - Higher rates of seed (lbs. per

sq.ft.) are needed for some grasses versus others.

             

  

Zoysia GrassCentipede GrassRyegrasses

BermudagrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

Cost of Establishment - The dollars actually expended can vary considerably depending on the site

preparation, cost of seeds etc..

               

Ryegrasses

Pensacola BahiagrassBermudagrassArgentine BahiagrassCentipede GrassZoysia GrassSt. Augustine Grass